Baltimore @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 13, 2012 ) Tampa Bay 2, Baltimore 3

The Tampa Bay Rays are fighting to stave off elimination and the visiting Baltimore Orioles know they are part of the postseason field as the two teams open a three-game series Monday. Tampa Bay has won 10 of 11 games but will be eliminated from the wild-card race with one more loss or one more victory by the Oakland Athletics. Baltimore clinched a playoff spot when the Los Angeles Angels lost to the Texas Rangers on Sunday night.

The Orioles are tied for first place in the American League East with the New York Yankees, who finish the season with a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. Baltimore has won four straight and 11 of 14 and is headed to the playoffs for the first time since 1997. The Orioles have won their last five meetings with the Rays and have a 9-6 edge in the season series. Tampa Bay outfielder B.J. Upton hit two homers in Sunday’s victory over the Chicago White Sox and has 12 homers in September. Upton has 31 steals and is two homers away from his first 30-30 season.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Baltimore), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles LH Wei-Yin Chen (12-10, 4.11 ERA) vs. Rays RH Alex Cobb (10-9, 4.18)

Chen hasn’t won since Aug. 16 and is 0-3 with a 5.14 ERA over his last six starts. He received a no-decision against the Rays on Sept. 13 when he allowed two runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. Chen is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four starts against Tampa Bay this season.

Cobb has won six of his last seven decisions. He beat the Boston Red Sox in his last outing when he gave up one run and three hits in five innings. Cobb took a no-decision on Sept. 12 in his lone career outing against Baltimore. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rays closer Fernando Rodney has a 0.61 ERA entering the series, which matches the record set by Dennis Eckersley of the 1990 Oakland Athletics for lowest ERA by a reliever who pitched at least 50 innings.

2. Orioles closer Jim Johnson became the 10th player in major-league history to record 50 saves in a season by getting the final three outs of Sunday’s win over the Red Sox.

3. Tampa Bay’s Ben Zobrist is 5-for-12 against Chen and teammate Jeff Keppinger is 4-for-8.